Yemen's president orders military shakeup to sideline former leader's son, nephew

CAIRO – State television says Yemen's president removed the son and nephews of his predecessor from powerful security posts in the most dramatic step yet in sidelining top old regime figures.

Former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who stepped down in early 2012 after more than a year of protests against his rule, had seeded relatives and loyalists into top military and government posts. His successor, Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, has been progressively trying to remove many.

On Wednesday, Hadi ordered Saleh's son Ahmed moved from his post as head of the Republican Guard to serve as ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.

Saleh's nephew Ammar, the intelligence chief, was made a military attaché in Ethiopia. Ammar's brother, Tareq Yahia, head of the Presidential Guard, was made a military attaché in Germany.